Typewriting machine



B. F. BARKER TYPEWRITING MACHINE Filed MaICh 14, 1922 pwd-ll 4 4 Nov. 6,1928.

, avoided.

Patented Nov. 6, 19,28.

UNITED STATES 1mmMIN F. BARKER, oF EL raso, TEXAS, ASSIGNOR "roUNDERWO'OD ELLroT'r FISHER.

PATENT OFFICE.

COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OEDELAWARE..

.A TYPEWRITING MACHINE.

Application filed March 14, 192i2.: Serial No. 543,635.' n

This invention relates to means for centering headings or the like onworksheets 1n typewriting machines, and is in the nature of animprovement on the patent to H. Bates and C. E. Smith, No.1,146,393,1grantedJuly 13, V1915, and my Patent No. 1,192,976, grantedAugust'l, 1916. f 'v y In said patent to Bates and Smith, provision ismade of means whereby the setting of the margin-stops at any selected.positions automatically eects the setting of the telltale or centeringindicator midway between ing from the number indicating on the fixed`letter-space scale the position of the telltale associated with themargin-stops, may be In the embodiment of the invention hereindisclosed, the telltale is connected to the middle of a collapsibledevice such as lazytongs or. a lazy-tongs structure vattached at itsends to the `marglnfstops. Th1s'mechanism is readily applicabletoUnderwood` standard typewriting machines.

To avoid actuation 'of the back-space key and the accompanying countingof half the number of letter-spaces in the heading, or computations todetermine the proper rpreliminary position for the carriage to center agiven heading,.pr'ovision'is made of a scale on the carriage extendingto the rightnfrom the carriage pointer and having graduations thereon athalf letter-space lntervals and numerals at suitable intervals to assistin determining the number of any graduation counting toV the right fromthe carriage pointer. y

In practice, the margin-stops are setto indicate the `limits withinwhich typing may .be effected. If then a heading of a smaller number ofletter-spaces than the number included between the margin-stops is to'be pointer.

centered, the carriagefis moved to itsl right heading is spelled out bythe operator, who at the, same time taps thefspace-bar once for limitagainst the right margin-stop, andthe each letter-space of the heading,including the letter-spaces between words. Thefnumber of letter-spacesofthe heading is then determined by subtracting `the letter-spaceindication of therightmargin-stop from the final letter-space position'of the letter-space` 4 The carriage is'neXt shifted to bring itslpointer into alignment with'th'e` telltale.

selected andthe opposite graduation on the letter-space scale noted.VThe cariage'is then Thegra'duation on the half letterr space scalehaving the same number-as the letter-spaces in the heading to becentered is shifted to bring its pointer'opposite the graduation notedon the letter-space scale,

and is thereby positioned for beginningthe i.

typing of the heading in centered position.

'Isf

In accordance with another inode of use' of vthe invention, thesubtraction *of the right j margin-'stop setting from the finalletterspace position of the pointer'at the lspelling vout ofthe headingYon they vspace-bar is obviate'd.` According tovthisway of using theinvention, after the heading hasn been spelled out and the finalletter-space position f has been noted, the graduation'on the` halfletter-space scale, corresponding tothe setting of the rightmarginstop',-is brought opposite the telltale. The graduation on thehalf letter-space scale, corresponding to the final position .on theletter-space scale at'thef` spelling out ofthe heading, is thenyselected and the registering graduation on the letterspace scale isnoted. The carriage is'` then lifted to bring its pointer opposite thegraduation noted'upon the letter-space scale and is therebypositionedlfor beginning thetyping of the heading in centered position;V

Other features and advantages :will `hereinafter appear; l n' In theaccompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is a front view, showing my invention applied to so muc-h of anUnderwood standard typewriter asis necessary'v for 'the purpose ofYillustration.` I

Figure 2 is ay fragmentary view, similar to Figure 1, but in whichthemargin-stops.

los

arespaced rcloser together .and the lazyp tongs connection betweenfthe nn margin-stops correspondingly' collapsed.' Y

the right.

Figure 3 is a view of the parts shown in Figure 2, looking down fromabove.

liligure 4 is a sectional side view of the mechanism shown in Figure 1,looking from Figure 5 is a. perspective view o-the telltale which isconnected to the lazy-tongs at the middle of the latter.

Provision is madelof a left margin-stop 11 and a right inarginstop 12,both slidably mounted onta rod 13fsupported at the let't` y eriece 1G afixed finger-niece 19 is i 7 C i mounted on the margin-stop 11 to theright 'of the linger-piece 16, so that the latter may readily be shiftedby grasping the two hnger-pieces betweentlie thumband forelinger of onehand of the operator.

llie rie'lit margin-stop 12 is similarly provided, with a shiftablei'ingei'piece 20, which comprises a toothed portion (not shown) tocio-operate with a rack 21 formed on a rail 22 on which a wheel 23 atthe front oi' the carriage 24 reststo support the iront ot the carriage.The connection between the :iinger-,piece 20and the rack 21 is such asto Vprevent movement oi the margin-stop 12 to the right. The margiirstop121s also provided withV a lined iingenpiece 25 to aid vin shitting thelinger-piece 20, and, in view :of the, connection between thefinger-piece 2O and the rack 21, the lined linger-piece 25 ispositioned. vto the let'o the movable fingerpiece 2O,` this arrangementbeing the reverse of that `of the lngerlpieces on the margin- Ystop 11.l

The margin-stops 11 and 12 are provided', respectively, with pointers 26and 27, which Vare provided, respectively, with index-marksI V23 and 29,to enable accurate positioning of the margin-stops with reference to aletterspacescale 30 mounted on a bar 31 supported at its ends on theends 14 and 15 oi' the typ-cl writer traine. The scale 30 is providedwith graduations at letter-space intervals, every lilith graduationbeing longer than the intermediate graduations, and the graduationscorresponding to ten spaces and multiples thereof Vcounted from theright being made of greater length than the intermediate marksindicating five spaces or Vmultiples thereof.` The scale is providedwith a 0 at the first graduation to the right, and with a suitablenumeral for every'tenth graduastalled tion counted to the left. Thecarriage 24 is provided with a central pointer 32 having an index-mark33 to be brought into alignment with graduations on the letter-spacescale 30. Y

A telltale-device 34 is slidably mounted on the rod 13 and so connectedwith the niargin-stops 11 and 12 as to be positioned midway between saidmargin-stops, irrespective of the positions ofthe latter. The means 'forpositioning the telltale centering device 34 midway between themargin-stops 11 and 12 comprises a bodily collapsible device in the formof lazy-tongs or a lazy-tongs connection 35, Vincluding a plurality oicpairs oi levers 36, the levers of each pair being pivotally connectedtogether at their centers-by pivots 37, and the ends of eachintermediate` pair Abeing pivoted by means of pivots 33 to the levci'sof the pairs on both sides thereof.

The extreme ends of the pairs of levers 36 at the ends of the lazytongsare connected to the respective margin-stops by links 39 at the left andlinks 40 at the right, the links 39 being connected by a pivot 41 with aplate 42 attached to the margin-stop 11 by suitable means, `such asscrews 43 The links 40 are connected by means of a pivot 44 to a plate45 secured on the margin-stop 12 by any suit able means, such as screws46. Preferably the plates 42 and 45 are provided with slots 42EL and45a, respectively, to permit adjustnient. of the plates on themargin-stops, so that the telltale 34 may be accurately located.

rllie telltale 34 is rovided, at its lower end, with ears 47, anc theseears are secured by any suitablenieans to a slide-member 43, formed ofsheet-metal 'and shaped so as to partially enclose the rod 13, theV:tree et of the slide being turned outwardly, as shown inFigure 4, sothat the slide 48 may be snapped over the rod 13 by pressing the formeragainst the latter. The lazy-tongs connection 35 comprises an odd numberof pairs of levers 36 and the pivot 37 oi' the middle pair is utilizedto connect the lazytongs 35 with the telltale 34. To this end, thepivot`37 of the central pair of levers 3G is made ot'suici'ent `lengthto project into an opening 49 in a brac ret 50 securedto the ears 47 oftheV telltale. Preferably, the bracket 50 is so shaped that its centralpor-. tion will stand out from the telltale to permit the middle pivot37 to project into the opening 49without engaging the telltale 34. ltwill be evident that the lazytongs-and-slide structure can4 be applicvery readily to the machines in general use, inasmuch as it involvesnothing more than the attachment of the plates 42 and 45 the left andright margin-stops, respectively, andy the snapping of the slide-meinber48 over the rod 13. Y

Vlith the mechanism, just described,

on a typewriting machine, the car- Sli l no

margin-stops. This lmay be done by bring` ing the pointer 32 on thecarriage into alignmont with the telltale 34, and then moving Y thecarriage to the right a number` ot letterspaces along the scale 30, thisnumber being half of the number ot letter-spaces in the heading to becentered. of means whereby the initial position of the carriage may bedetermined more conveniently. To this end, provision is made oi a scale5l, projecting forwardlyk from the iront bar-52 ot the carriage 24 andhaving graduations thereon at half letter-space iintervals, the zerograduation coineieing with the index-mark 33 on thecarriage-pointer 32.lAs shown in Figure 23, the graduations increase progressively in lengthfor each group of five, and the graduation at the end of each group otten spaces is designated by a reference numeral, to indicate the numberof spaces between the Zero of the scale and that vparticular graduation,

As shown in Figures 3 and fl, the scale is formed on a sheet-metal plate5B, which hasfa flange 54 to engage the rear tace of the iront bar 52 oithc carriage when the scale is in position. The central pointer 32 onthe carriage isherein disclosed 'formed by bending the pointerforwardrfrom a vertical plate 55, mounted onv a housing 55 for the wheel23, the housing` being iformed preferably as an integral part et thel'ront bar 52 of the carriage 211. Said housing 55a also turnishes asuitable means for securing the scale 51 on the carriage. The plate iscut along a line sufficiently at the right of the 0 ofthe scale 51, toenable the edge 56 to engage the plate 55 and housing` 55a. at theright, the portion to the lel't Ot the cut being turned downsubstantially at rightaiigles to the plate 53, so as to engage the`i'roirt face of the plate 55; the 'flange 57 y'tlnis Vformed, the plate55 may be secured to the housing 55a'by any suitable means, such asscrews 58, passing through holes in the plate and slots 58a in flange 57to permit adjustment of the scale 51.

The operation is substantially as follows: After positioning themargin-stops 1l. and 12 as desired, the carriage is centrally positionedwith reference thereto by-bringing he pointer 32 on the carriagevoppositethe telltale as shown in each otFigures 1, 2 and rlhe number ofletter-spaces inthe heading to be centered must be determined, and thegraduation along the half letterspace scale 51 corresponding to thisnumber is ascertained. Then the graduation on the scale SO opposite thegraduation selected on the scale 51 is noted,and the earriage2flis movedto the right .to bring its pointer into alignment with the graduationnoted.

sition of the latter. Provision is made The carriage 24; will then be inposition to begin the typing ot the heading. The lazytongs device shownherein to connect the margin-stops and automaticall center the telltaleStfwithr respect thereto 1s bodily collapsible at each side of thetelltale 34- within the marginal limits ot the writing-field determinedby the margin-stops in any set po'- The margin-stops ina-y thus bevbrought closely together, withv the lazy-tongs in compact collapsedorder, and moved along the 'rod 13 to even extreme positions at eitherend of the letter-space scale..

30 as 'seen in Figure 2, so that the vwritingield may be embracedbetween any two points ot the letter-spacescale, and a plurality ofwriting-heide with centered' headings may be delineated on thework-sheet without removing' the Work-sheet from the machine orshittingit vlongitudinally of the platen. No matter where themargin-gages are placed, the floating device 84 tellstlie operator theexact location ojt the point which is midway between the margin-gages.In other '\vords, thc margin-gage mechanism is equipped with aself-linding` or self-locating line-center. lt to this telltale,therefore, t theoperator adjusts the carriagel by means of its pointer32. It will-be obvious that, bymeans ofthe 'present invention, theposition toi be assumed by the-carriage preparatory 'to typing a headingin centered position may be determined more yreadily than by centeringdevices heretofore in use. Variations may be resortedto within the scopeof `the invention, and portions of the improvements may be used withoutothers. YiilsfivingK thus described my invention. I claim: f

- l. ln typewriting machine, the combination with a travelingcarriage,.a letterspace scale for indicating the position o' lthe ge,and 'right and lett adjustable mar- -stops to limit the travel ofthecarriage, a rod on which the margin-stops are .Slid- "glyvniounted, acenter-indicating telltale, nens 'detachably connectingthe telltaleto nei rain-stops for adjustment' thereby, and

saitlsleove having an opening in one ol its sides to enableV it toberemoved front the rod and toV be snapped into position to slidinglyembrace the-rod.

2. rlhe lcombination, with a typewriting' lio resilient supportingsleeve connected tothe and .slidingly mounted on the rod,'

iso l position.

i centering device typewriting machine h central pointer thereon,ed'letter-spacescale,` and maroni-stops i' .ably inoi ed on a rodadjacent seid l ter-.ipace-scaie, including' a telltale, ci attached 'tosaid telltale and capable ofV eine; snappedvover said rod, means compi`iig ineinbeis to be attached to said margin-stops iii/hereby thetelltale vifill'beautoinaticaly centered with reference tothemargin-stops, and ineens, including a haliQ-letter-space-scale on saidcarriage, to indicate on said lette -spacescale the graduation oppositewhich the ccnti'al pointer on the carriage is to be bioiie'htpreparatory tjo typing a heading in centered position. t

o. il centering; device for attachment to a tvpeivriting machine havinga carriage, a

ii ed letter-space-scale, and margin-Stoas sliilably mounted on a rodadiacent said let- .L L

ei-spa:e-scale, including`- a tel tale,ia'lclip att ier A. to saidtelltale and capable et beineY ed over said rod, means coinprisingl` ersto be attached to said margin-stops 'whe-rely the telltale Will Vbeautomatically 'centered with reference the margin-stops, and meansincluding' a lialf-let'iier-spaceleei'inine the position to'which thel"e 'e to be brought preparatory to typeadiii in centered position,

'ln a typeiviitingmachine, the nation with a carriage toinpiisinbai-iysaid 'liront bai1 being?,r provided t its cenl'ei- 'with housing,a Wheel mounted in said housing. rail to support said Wheel andconsequently the frontali the carriage, ccnl, s JL. e a iront ralpointer for said ai'riage, a plate from ivliic"- said central. pointerproliccts, said plate being,` attached to said housing at the irontthereof, a. letter-space scale adjacent said carriage to co-oporateivitli said central pointer, andiniai'cgin-stops settable at letter-.space distances along said letter-space scale,

ol' a telltale `movable along said later-space scale, means controlledby both of said inar- -stops for automatically positioning said il".lemidway between said stops, and a aliQ-letter-space scale resting on thefront :ar oit the carriage at the right of the housing` and having aflange turned down therefrom at its lett end to enable thehalt-letterlifiiising. I

7. ln a typeivriting` machine, the combina- Wth a carriage comprisingl airont bar,

vsaid iront bar being provided at its center i .n housing, a Wheelmounted in said housing, a rail to support said Wheel and consequentlythe front oit the carriage, aceiltral pointer for said carriage, a plate'from which said central pointer projects, plate being attached to saidhousing at liront thereof, a letter-space scale adgacent said carriageto cooperate with said central point-cr, and margin-stops settable atacc distances along` said letter-space ile, ineans controlled by bot-hof said niaix, -ctops :tor automatically postioning tale midway betweensaid stops, and i"-lettei7-space scale comprising a plate on the trentbar oit the carriage at lit oit the housing and having a 'flange downtherefrom at its leift end to CTI collapsible trains connecting saidtelltale to the margin-stops and operative to automatically maintain thetelltale in a Vmidway position betwee said margin-stops at all adjiislnents thereof, said pointer co-opeiating with said telltale to centerthe carriage, said collapsible trains including links pivoted togetherand'pivotally secured to the telltale and to both margin-stops.

ln a typeivriting machine having a cairiage, a stationary mainletter-space scale there-tor, a pointer movable with sad cartoco-operate with said main scale, and i drein-stops settable toletter-space positions by the aid ol3 said scale to prescribe theuniting field, means co-operative with said Jor centering a heading-Whose let- Til ot said half-space scale into ters 4have been previouslycounted, said ycentering means. including, in combination, (l) atelltale, (2) Vmeans operatively connecting said margin-stops vwith idtelltale 'to position ksaid telltale midu ay ot said margin-stops, andtinding means vco-operative wth said carriagepointer and said telltale,said finding means including a finding scale in proximity to said mainscale and reduced to halt thelength' of said main scale and mounted'uponsaid carriage in such posrtion that, when the pointer registers with thetelltale, the point upon said halt-space scale, whereby the number ofletters in the heading is denoted, will stand in register with the,point on said main scale. at whichv the typing of the head'ng must be`gin, the position of saidl carriage-pointer `iermanently coinciding withzero on said "rali-space scale.

l0. In a typewriting machine having a carriage and margin-stops settableto pre- .fribe the writing field, means tor centering heading whoseletter-spaces have been ireviously counted, Said centering meansincluding, in combination, a telltale, means operatively connecting saidmargin-stops wfth said telltale to position said telltale midway oitsaid margin-stops, a stationaryv full-space main scale, a finding scale1n proximity to'sai'd main scale and reduced to `halt1 the length ofsaid main scale, said haltspace scale being connected to move with saidcarriage and in position to co-operate with said telltale, andhalt-space being so located that the point thereon by which the. numberof letter-spaces in the heading is denoted, can be brought into registerwith the point on said main Scale yait-which the typing of the headingmust begin, by adjusting the carriageto bring the zero pointvcoincidence with said telltale. A

11. In a centering devicefor attachment to a typewriting machine, the'combination with a traveling carriage hand a Vpointer therefor, saidcarriage having adjustable margin-stops and a line-centering telltale,of means associated with said telltale, said pointer and saidmargin-stops to automati cally position said telltale midway, betweensaid margin-stops, said Imeans including equal opposite trains of linksindividually pivoted together, said trains collapsible bodily at eachside of said telltale and constantly confined between said margin-stops,and operative at all times within the marginal limits of the writingfield to automatically indicate the center of any typing linepredetermined by said margin-stops.

12. In a typewriting machine having a traveling carriage, a stationaryletter-space scale, and apointer for said scale, the combination withadjustable margin-stops for limiting the travel of the carriage, and a`center-finding telltale for said stops, Wolfi mechanism for centeringaheadingwliose i letter-spaces have been previously counted,

'including `a member mounted fon said carriage tor co-operating withsaid telltale and with said stationary scale to indicate mechanically onthe latter the point for loeginning thetypingot the. heading.

` 13. In a typewriting machine having a traveling carriage, a stationaryletter-space scale', and' a pointeriior said scale, the combination'with adjustabley vn iargin-stops for lim ing the travel of thecarriage, of mechanism ior centering a heading whosel letter-spaces havebeen', previously countechincluding'a member mounted on said carriage'for cti-operating with said stops and with said-stationary scale toindicate vmechanically on the latter the point for beginning the typingof Vthe heading,'said centering said marginstops to occupy acentralposition relatively thereto, and also including a reduced scaleto one-half the lengt-h of the main scale and co-operative directly withsaid telltale, at all adjustments thereof, and directly with said mainscale.

14. In a typewriting machine having a machine-frame, a Vtraveling-platen-carriage, and almain pointer and main scale to indicate theprinting point on the work-sheet, the

Amechanism including a. telltale connected to 4 combination of amargin-gage telltale mech# anism upon the main frame to locate thecenter ofthe line vof print, and a half-space scale co-operative withsaid main scale and said telltale to center a line to be typed, the

halt-space scale movable with the carriagev to position to co-operatewith saidtelltale at all adjustments of the latter and the other f scalestationary upon the frame. y

l5; In a typ'ewriting machine having La carriage and a' main pointerco-operative witha stationary main letter-space scale, the 'combinationwith opposite marginstops, of a line-centering telltale indicating acentral position between the two marginal stops, and ahalf-letter-spacescalermounted upon the carriage and co-operative with thetull-let-ter-space scale andwith said telltale in finding the pointinthe carriage-'travel at which to" begin the central typing of apreviously counted heading, said half-space scale mounted inv positionfor adjustment to said telltaleat all positions oi' the latter.

i6. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a traveling carriagehaving a main pointer co-operative with a letterspace scale securedtothe frame'oiithe machine, to indicate the full-letter-space-typingpositions of the carriage along the line ofprint, rmargin-stops todetermine the length of the line of print, and a line-centering telltaleco-operative with the marginstops to indicate a central letter-spaceposition between the vmargin-stops, of a haltletter-space scale securedto the carriage with its zero position at the maan carriagepointer, andco-operative with the full-letter-space scale7 When the carriagepointertyping the initial character of the heading to be centered. p Y

17. In a typeivriting machine, theccnt bination with a letterspacingcarriage, ad jnstable margingages upon the framework, and a telltalemechanism controlled by said margin-gages to indicate the center of theline of typing, of means upon the carriage for c'o-ope1ation with saidtelltale for centering, Without calculation, a previouslycountedheading' for any length and any location of the line of typing, saidcenteringmeans inclusive of a haltspace letter-scale in position foradjustment with the carriage into co-operation with said telltale atanyY adjustn'ient of the latter.

18. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a traif'elingcarriage having a full letter-space scale, aI pointer co-operating withthe letter-spacek scale, adjustable inarginstops for limiting the travelof the carriage, and a telltale to indicate on said letter-space scalethe central point between the margin-stops, of a mechanical coinputingdevice including a half letterspacc scale constantly co-operative withsaid full letter-space scale for reading on the lettei space scale atany position of said telltale the point to which to shift the carriage(by the aid o' said pointer) for beginning to type ay heading to becentered With relation to the margin-stops, the numbers on thehalf-space scale running in the opposite directionfroiu those on theYmain scale.

BENJAMIN F. BARKER,

